July 18, 2025 – the feast in honor of the uncovering of the holy relics of Saint Sergius, Abbot of Radonezh, and the day of the martyrdom of the holy martyrs Grand Duchess Elizabeth and Nun Barbara.
Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Almaty.
Concelebrating with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan were: Dean of the parishes of the Southern capital and Rector of the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, Protopriest Valery Zakharov; Rector of the Church in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in Almaty, Protopriest Yevgeny Vorobyev; Head of the Department of Religious Education and Catechism of the Metropolis and Rector of the Church of the Protection and the Church in honor of the Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos, Protopriest Yevgeny Bobylev; Rector of the Theophany Church, Protopriest Valery Shavrin; Sacristan of the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, Protopriest Igor Svetlichny; Protopriest Vladimir Volkov; Vice-Rector for Educational Work of the Almaty Theological Seminary, Priest Ioann Livinsky; Head of the Personal Secretariat of the Metropolitan, Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolis, Priest Georgy Sidorov; Sacristan of the Adriano-Natalievsky Church, Priest Ioann Konoplev, and the diaconate.
Among the worshippers were: staff of the Almaty Diocesan Administration, benefactors and parishioners of the cathedral, and Orthodox faithful of the city.
For prayerful veneration by the faithful, an icon containing a relic of Saint Sergius of Radonezh and a reliquary with relics of the holy martyrs Grand Duchess Elizabeth and Nun Barbara were brought to the church.
The choir of the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, directed by O. Solomonova, sang the hymns.
The homily after the Communion verse was delivered by Priest Georgy Sidorov.
Following the dismissal of the Liturgy, a glorification of Saint Sergius and the holy martyrs Elizabeth and Barbara was performed. Afterwards, Metropolitan Alexander congratulated those celebrating their name day and addressed the congregation with a sermon.
“In the words of the historian Vasily Klyuchevsky, ‘By commemorating Saint Sergius, we examine ourselves, we review the moral inheritance bequeathed to us by the great builders of our ethical order…’ Saint Sergius is for us a guiding star, the true image of a Christian. Again and again, as we turn to him, we learn to rightly evaluate the spiritual realities of today.
In the spiritual, moral, and cultural life of our people, there is nothing of true value that does not trace its roots to the traditions laid down by Saint Sergius at the Holy Trinity Monastery he founded.
The person of this intercessor and prayer warrior of the Orthodox world today unites the vast expanse of Eurasia. This is profoundly symbolic – for Saint Sergius entered history above all as a peacemaker and an enlightener of nations. Though he at first withdrew from the world and embraced a life of severe asceticism in the wilderness, he soon gained immense spiritual authority among his contemporaries.
In his life was fulfilled the clear word of Holy Scripture: ‘You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand – and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven’ (cf. Matthew 5:14–16).
Many times the humble hermit left his solitary retreat to go forth with a mission of reconciliation. His gentle words subdued the quarrelsome temper of princes and were filled with profound peace and quiet.
Abba Sergius remains for all ages our ‘eternal contemporary.’ Immersing ourselves in his life and contemplating his person, we are freed from superficiality, from delusion and deceitful thinking.
Once again we behold the radiant image of the great Abbot – laboring, baking bread, building churches and monastic cells side by side with ordinary monks. An abbot who ate and dressed humbly, but possessed great spiritual power, so that his single word could work miracles and foresee the future.
In our age – when people seek comfort, wealth, and power – the words from his life, written by his contemporary, sound as a deep rebuke to the conscience:
‘His virtues were these: purity of soul and body, silence of the lips, physical labor, sincere humility, ceaseless prayer, wisdom, perfect love, poverty in clothing, remembrance of death, meekness with calmness, and constant fear of God.’
How important it is to remember these words and keep before our eyes the clear and true image of the saint!
A Christian is called, above all, to care for the things of heaven and to prepare for the meeting with eternity.
We must strive to acquire that love for God and neighbor, that meekness, gentleness, and diligence that were shown to us by the Saint.
Like a spiritual testament, the saint’s words – preserved by pious tradition – now resound in our ears: ‘By love and unity we shall be saved.’” from the sermon of Metropolitan Alexander.
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